Family left with no headstone for grandmother's grave when company moves

MAGNOLIA, Texas – When Nancy Silva visits her mom's grave site she says it's painful for several reasons.

She obviously misses her, but it's also a terrible reminder of the missing headstone.

"There's nothing there," Silva said. "It's just plain grass."

She told KPRC2 she even sees people walking over her mother's grave site because without a marker they don't realize a person is buried there.

"Yesterday was Mother's Day in Mexico so I went and it hit hard, it hit really hard."

Silva and her family have receipts that show they paid nearly $4,000 to The Cemetery Store for a large heart headstone back in 2013.

They've been trying to get it delivered for four years and say the owner always had an excuse as to why it was delayed.

Now, they can't get ahold of anyone at all.

"No calls are being returned, no emails being returned, nothing," Silva said.

KPRC stopped by the business located in the 16000 block of Loch Katrine Lane in Houston and discovered it is no longer there.

Gabriel Tricanico said he moved his auto business into the building about six months ago.

He also said people are constantly stopping by looking for the former owners.

"We have had quite a few people that I know of, that I can count, eight to 10," he said. "They're looking for them. They have paid for their headstones and can't find them anywhere."

On the Better Business Bureau website, The Cemetery Store has an "F" rating and apparently nine others have filed similar complaints against them.

KPRC2 found out where the owner lives and stopped by her home Thursday night but when she opened the door and saw the TV camera, she quickly slammed it and wouldn't answer any questions.

Silva and her family say they aren't giving up and now they're considering legal action.

They just want their money back or their headstone delivered.

"It's not fair," said Silva. "She took our money and ran off."

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